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Schaub wins debut as Texans beat Chiefs

Sep 9, 2007 - 9:13 PM By Andrew Ferraro PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

HOUSTON (Ticker) - This is how the Houston Texans always wanted it to be.

With Matt Schaub and Ahman Green making their first starts for Houston, the Texans used an effective and methodical game plan en route to a 20-3 win over the Kansas City Chiefs in the season opener for both teams Sunday.

Schaub completed 16-of-22 passes for 225 yards. including a 77-yard touchdown to Andre Johnson in the second quarter. Green and Ron Dayne were equally effective on the ground for the Texans as the two combined 106 yards.

"I think was important to go out there and play efficiently and manage the game well," Schaub said. "We exectuted our game plan and game in with a game play, which is ultimately what our goal is. We exceeded that today and beat a good football team."

After winning their first two season openers, the Texans lost three straight and are now 1-0 for the first time since beating the Miami Dolphins in South Florida to start the 2003 season.

Damon Huard was unimpressive for the Chiefs, who committed four turnovers. Huard completed 22-of-33 passes for 170 yards and two interceptions.

The Texans also bottled up Larry Johnson, who managed just 43 rushing yards on 10 carries.

Houston scored twice in the second quarter and took a 10-0 lead into halftime thanks to strong halves by Schaub and Green.

Green carried the ball nine time for 48 yards and Schaub completed 9-of-14 attempts for 156 yards, including the long strike to Andre Johnson.

"We have been working on that play for awhile, but it never opened up like that before," Andre Johnson said. "Things are just different now. All of the guys just have a lot of confidence and we don't panic. When we get in a tough situation, no one panicks. We just relax and see what we can do to make it right on the next play."

Kris Brown started the scoring with a 26-yard field goal at 7:33 of the second quarter the Schaub hit Johnson 1:22 later.

The second half started in disaster for the Chiefs when Kris Wilson fumbled after catching a pass from Huard. Mario Williams, the No. 1 overall pick from 2006, picked up the loose ball and returned it 38 yards for a TD, making it 17-0.

"The difference today was preparation during the week," Williams said. "Our scout team gave us a really good look this week. Our whole defense came out together and the way we approached the game, we approached it as a unit of one. Everything that happened to me, good or bad, we look at it as everyone together."

Williams finished with a career-high two sacks.

"(Williams' performance) did a lot for the football team, but I will tell you something interesting," Texans coach Gary Kubiak said. "We as a coaching staff sat up here Thursday night and said that is the best practice we had ever seen (Williams) have since we have been here.

"We talked to him about that and it is great when you can tell a player, 'That's progress,' Thursday and then you can show him how that equates on the field Sunday."

After Andre Johnson lost a fumble, the Chiefs got on the board with 30 seconds left in the third quarter on Justin Medlock's 27-yard field goal.

Medlock had missed a 30-yard field goal on the Chiefs' first possession of the game.

"I don't know, I think I might have rushed that first one a little bit," Medlock said. "It was all might fault and I have to take responsibility for it. I have to find a way to bounce back."

With time winding down, the Texans took more than 10 minutes off the clock in the fourth quarter and capped that long drive with Brown's second field goal of the day from 28 yards out.

Dayne and Green did most of the damage on the ground and combined for 29 yards on 10 carries during the clock-eating scoring drive.

Travis Johnson sealed things, picking off Huard near midfield.

"The thing that disappoints most are the turnovers and our inability to put points on the board when we got into position," Chiefs coach Herm Edwards said. "You are kidding yourself if you think you can win a football game when you turn the ball over four times."